(80% cabernet sauvignon and 20% cabernet franc): Bright full ruby. Pure, perfumed aromas of blackberry, cassis, lead pencil, violet and minerals, complicated by a super-ripe note of crushed raspberry. Extremely primary and pure, offering sharply defined cassis, violet and mineral flavors of great class. The perfectly integrated acidity and a vibrant floral character from the cabernet franc give the middle palate terrific lift. Though very ripe in its flavor profile, this wine conveys a rare lightness of touch that is typical of Sassicaia but rare for this vintage on the Tuscan Coast. Finishes with noble tannins and outstanding palate-staining length. For all its creamy power and charm, I really like this wine's balance and the subtle delivery of its complex flavors. I have tasted every vintage of Sassicaia on countless occasions and, other than the legendary 1985, I have no doubt that this is one of the two or three best Sassicaias at a similar stage of development. Though the 2009 won't surpass the once-in-a-lifetime 1985, it is starting out its life in bottle with almost the same perfectly balanced, opulent creamy texture and depth of that incredible wine, which I remember tasting both in Rome and in Tuscany immediately upon release. In fact, that wine was so good that even though I was still a university student (and thus on a student budget), it was the first time in my life I ever bought a full case. If I were a university student today, I'd do the same with the 2009, even though the price of Sassicaia is far higher today. There's profound potential here, but younger wine writers and consumers who weren't seriously involved in tasting back in the '80s may well be surprised by this wine's voluptuous, atypically opulent texture and thus miss its sheer greatness. Ian D'Agata

The 2009 Sassicaia is a wonderfully harmonious and complex wine with notes of dark cherries and prunes on the nose with aromatic herbs in the background which open out in the glass. The palate is rich and elegant with very refined, seamless tannins and layers of gorgeous, sweet dark cherry and wild berry fruits intermingled with exotic spices and mediterranean herbs with a mineral note on the finish. There is superb definition and wonderful balance and complexity. Made from a blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Cabernet Franc, this is an immensely appealing and refi ned wine which will be delicious to drink for 20 years or more. Anticipated maturity 2018-2035.